A toilet in good working condition should be able to hold enough water in its tank and bowl to prevent toxic gases and bad smells from sullying your bathroom. So, if your toilet bowl is not filling with water after a flush, you need to have it fixed ASAP. Thankfully, you can easily resolve some of the issues that cause this problem even without the help of a professional plumber. Do you experience a toilet bowl not filling with water after flush? Read on to learn why that’s the case and how to resolve the issue.
Besides toilet bowls not filling with water, your toilet suddenly flushing by itself might sound like a strange phenomenon to some homeowners. The best approach is to figure out the cause of the problem to devise a means to fix the broken flush system. But, if the problem is complex, consider seeking help from a professional plumber to avoid escalating the issue.
Possible Causes of Toilet Bowl Not Filling With Water After Flush
Your toilet bowl may fail to fill with water after a flush due to the following issues:
1. Float Ball Problems
A float ball is that round ball toilet fixture that you see above the water’s surface in the tank. A malfunctioning float ball is the likeliest culprit whenever you experience this toilet bowl glitch. The float ball is designed to stop the influx of water when the water level rises to the right height in the toilet tank. In other words, the fixture controls the supply of water to the tank by raising the float arm to block the flow of water after the flush to prevent water overflow.
That means if the toilet never has sufficient water for flushing, the float ball is too low. To correct this problem, you need to slightly bend the float arm of your toilet upwards. That will move the float ball upwards and allow enough water to flow into the tank. Consider replacing the float ball if the ball remains at a shallow level even after the readjustment.
2. Faulty Fill Tube
A fill tube is that small hose that connects to your toilet’s overflow tube. This is the tube that fills the toilet’s tank after the flush. So, if the fill tube is disconnected or damaged, you can’t expect your toilet’s tank to be filled after flushing the water it was holding. As a result, the toilet won’t flush fully after finishing your business in the bathroom. You can simply fix this problem by reattaching it to the vertical tube.
But, if the fill tube is worn out, you should inspect it for possible damages and have it replaced. Luckily, fill tubes are universal, and you can quickly order online or from a store that sells bathroom accessories near you.
3. Faulty Flush Handle and Flapper Chain
Your toilet’s flush valve seal or flapper is designed to seal the drain hole after every flushing cycle. If the flapper is faulty, you’ll experience a running toilet that doesn’t fill the toilet tank after the flush. Usually, this happens when the flush rod chain that hits the tank is too long.
You can easily fix the length issue by adjusting the chain’s linkage. This is to ensure the flapper leaves a bit of slack when the toilet is closed. You can achieve that by cutting the excess links at the rod so as to prevent tangles. To confirm whether the valve seal problem is solved, place the lid back so you can check if the rod hits the tank when you pull the lever. If it hits the toilet’s tank, readjust the length of the chain and bend its flush rod downwards.
4. Worn-out Flapper
Trying to adjust a worn-out flapper might not be the best approach in case it’s too old. In this case, you need to find the exact flapper replacement that matches the design of your toilet. You should take pictures of the old flapper with you to the hardware store or match the photo with the designs you see online if you prefer ordering it online. Even bringing the old design with you when you visit the local store near you is a good idea because they usually have a wide variety.
For instance, certain flappers have a ring that covers the top of the tube, while others snap over the ears of the flush valve. Today, there is a wide range of flapper styles on the market and picking the exact style you’re looking for can be confusing. Your best bet is to note down the model’s specifications.
5. Fill Valve Problems
Another possible cause of the toilet bowl not filling with water after the flush is a faulty fill valve. This fixture is responsible for controlling water flow into your toilet’s tank from the main supply line. Use a screwdriver to remove the toilet’s cap lid to access the fill valves that are usually installed on the left side of most toilet models.
Considering that toilet fill valves are cheap toilet accessories, you should replace them instead of having them fixed. Furthermore, replacing old toilet fill valves requires only a little technical knowledge. But, if you want to fix the problem temporarily, you can turn the adjustment screw clockwise to allow more water inflow. Once you’re satisfied with the new angle, confirm whether the problem is fixed by checking if water is filling the tank properly. Finally, turn the supply counterclockwise to allow to open the toilet’s water supply.
6. Low Water Pressure
It’s also possible that your toilet is in perfect condition, but the water pressure in your home is too low to fill up the tank after a flush. The most common cause of low water pressure in many homes is leaking pipes or old rusty pipes. If that is the problem on your property, then the problem is a plumbing technicality, not the toilet. You should hire a professional plumber to fix the low water pressure issue. An experienced plumber can also help you unblock blocked sewer vent lines that remove sewer gases when you flush your toilet.
Wrap Up
Having a toilet bowl that doesn’t fill with water after a flush is like not having a toilet at all. A faulty toilet bowl cannot conveniently get all the wastewater to the septic tank. Nevertheless, such faults can be easily fixed without too much hassle if you follow the right steps. Hopefully, you’ll be able to fix that nasty bathroom issue by following the aforementioned easy ways. If you have any questions, suggestions, or comments, feel free to leave your contributions in the comments section below.
